Actor Aamir Khan has finally put to rest one of Bollywood's most enduring myths. Speaking at the London Indian Film Festival, he revealed that neither he, director Rajkumar Hirani, nor writer Abhijat Joshi knew engineer and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk while making 3 Idiots.
With this clarification, Aamir confirmed that Rancho, the film's iconic protagonist, was never created as a character based on Sonam Wangchuk, despite years of speculation among fans.
The misconception persisted because Rancho and Wangchuk share several striking similarities. Both advocate practical learning, innovation, and reforms in the education system. In addition, the film's Ladakh backdrop and Rancho's school reminded many viewers of Wangchuk's real-life work at SECMOL, strengthening the belief that the character was inspired by him.
However, the makers have clarified that 3 Idiots was loosely adapted from Chetan Bhagat's novel Five Point Someone, and Rancho was conceived as an original fictional character rather than a portrayal of any real individual.
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